Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-07-21

ed the meeting place was to De equiPpcu
with billiard and pool and card tables that
the organization would be so exclusive as
to keep from its membership great MAJOR
ity of the young men of the community.
The Vest VTrgiaia Democrat, whose editor
boasts that that journal ais in the hands OF
gentlemen who By birth, education and as
ISOLATION could not afford, even were they
so inclined, to peryert the truth" gives
place to the following happy illustration OF
the merit Of that journal to a title clear to
excellencies and decencies alleged to be I'M
parted to it By gentlemen whose birth, ed
ucation and association" so eminently quail
ify them for its conduct:
Mr.. EDrroR.-I beg Of your valuable paper a
few lines. 10 say a word in behalf OF our CluD,
in response 10 the mean misrepresentation Oi
the contemplate dyspepuc-edltor OF the r RIB
Press. ] am aware that Il Is better not 10 no.
tice this blackguard, who has no words at ms
command too low TO say Of gentleman VINO
will not notice or allow him 10 enter ms house,
but our club being a new departure IN this
place we deem il necessary TO correct the ma
iignantlv insinulted lies, and the opinion OF
those who may. not knowing the writer, be-
lieve what they ready in his dirty sheet TO De
true. The object of the Club is the promotion
of social intercourse and one of our bylaws
Is mo intoxicating beverage IS allowed IN the
room" This room affords meeting place,
with innocent amuSements TO pass away any
leisure time of the members, which, If proper
IN conducted, is far better than meeting and
lOafing on the street corner or some StOre-room.
A billiard. pool or card table is an ornament
to the home of every gentleman who can al
ford it, but of course the sage editor OF the
FREE Press not being in that sphere of society,
is utterly ignorant of its manner and customs.
The idiosvncrasies of the editor causes him TO
browbeat any enterprise which does not meet
his approbatiOn. The Club is a very close cor
poration. indeed. and will not admit no one
but gentlemen blackguards need not apply.
4 MEMBER.
We reluctantly respOnd-but We yield
we yield gently. In our paragraph last week
we were not personal. We did not mention
names. In fact, we cannot now name
half-dozen who have the honor to belong to
the social club" Sons of illustrious sires
of noble ancestry, for ought we know,
may compose in part, its membership; and,
perhaps,-possible it is that a degenerate
son Of a remote illicit love may have crept
into the close corporation. However this
may be. we do not k'O'r who is entitled to
the credit Of the foregoing choice bit of lit
erature, nor do we care We think we can
Judge by the ear-marks-by the ear-marks
that he is the counterfeit Of one who has
neither pride of ancestry nor hope of pos
terity. 'The thoroughbred frequently dis
appoints expectations based onits pedigree. "
Indeed, the last sentence of his heightened
communication bctrays him. 1t reads
The Club is n very close corporation, indeed,
and viii not admit no one but gentlemen
blackguards need not apply.
The public will at once infer that he be-
came q Member" before notice was served
that "blackguards need not apply"
All that the valiant defender Of the Club
SAYS about our not having admission into
society" and our gastric fixtures being so
much out of keller that we are dyspeptic to
a frightful degree, is gratuitous, if not idi-
otto. If we are debarred from the homes
of any because we are unworthy it is re-
lection on many good people who do admit
us. At any rate, we do not depend for our
associations upon the name and services of
those who belong to the dead past. And if
We are dyspcptic at any time because OF
a disregard of the laws of health and of
what We eat we can say truthfully that
we work for and pay for the things that go to
make up our three meals daily. Better have
a little honest indigestion than sandless
goose gizzard or the white liver of hound
pup.
In defense of the Club "a Member says ::
'The object of the Club is the promotion Of
social intercourse, and one of our bylaws Is:
No intoxicating beverage IS allowed IN the
room.
Unless the exc" of our informant meant
that intoxicating liquors would stimulate
the interest and enthusiasm Of the players
we made no alusiOn thereto. But now
that our attention has been called to it, we
are prepared to remark; That if a Men,
ber' will make oath that the aforesaid by
law has not been infracted, we can have
him indicted for perjury. OF course we do
not agree with him that "a billiard, pool or
card table is an ornament to the home of
every gentleman who can afford it"
We have nothing to do with the private
homes Of people. They are at liberty to
consult their own tastes without let or him
drancc-certainly they do not come with
in the legitimate sphere Of newspaper criti-
cism or remark. But social club house,
on the main thOroughfare, with its doors
wide open to allure the young into the
knowledge of games, that may, under some
circumstances, be not hurtful, vet the ten
dencv of which is generalization and the
indulgence more waste of time than real
recreation, comes within the province of
the public press to notice-and if to be re-
ferred TO at all. to be honestly and fairly
noticed. 1t may be that "the editor of The
FREE PRESS. not being in that sphere of So
ciety, is utterly ignorau, of its manners and
customs - This is the only compliment
paid by a Member" He has our thanks
for that much. and in parting We say he Is
welcome to any compliments implied any,
where i'm the foregoing remarks. But all
/ the same, We owe an apology 70 our readers.
Don'f EgDerfmenf.